Conesa does not say when Aeromexico will begin Barcelona flights. He also distances himself and his airline from Emirates' decision.

"It was their decision," Conesa tells FlightGlobal on 24 September during the Airline Passenger Experience Association's annual expo in Boston.

"We plan to continue enhancing coverage" of Europe, Conesa adds, noting that Barcelona is among cities Aeromexico intends to serve.

Aeromexico had initially intended to begin flying between Mexico City and Barcelona on 1 November.

But the airline cancelled that plan in May, citing an intention by Emirates – which Aeromexico described as heavily subsidised – to serve the same route.

Emirates had proposed to serve Mexico City as part of a Dubai-Barcelona-Mexico City route. The Gulf carrier already operates to Barcelona nonstop twice daily from Dubai, FlightGlobal schedules data show.

Dubai-based Emirates has now dropped that plan, blaming Mexican authorities for failing to make good on assurances that Emirates could secure daily slots at Mexico City.

Emirates said it was able to obtain slots for only three-times-weekly flights.

The controversy mirrors a similar dispute that has played out over several years between Gulf carriers and major US airlines.

Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways parent IAG, has disclosed that the group is considering legal action over the UK government’s mandatory two-week quarantine for travellers arriving in the country from 8 June.

After years of record traffic growth and unprecedented profitability, the airline industry is facing the sharpest and most sustained fall in air traffic demand as the coronavirus pandemic has brought international travel to a virtual standstill.

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